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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Moving From Discouragement To Hope (Part 2) | July 11, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer] from the pulpit
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- Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i'm robert jeffress.
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- We all feel sad and dejected from time to time,
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- But for many people,
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- Discouragement becomes less of a passing feeling
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- And more of a permanent state of mind.
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- Today we're learning from a great leader named nehemiah,
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- Who shows us how to escape the emotional depths of despair.
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- Nehemiah recognized the dejection among his people,
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- And he led them to a better place.
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- My message is titled: "moving from discouragement to hope"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ it's not conservative or liberal ♪
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- ♪ however they're defined ♪
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- ♪ it's not about interpretation ♪
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- ♪ or the judgment of the mind ♪
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- ♪ it's the opposite of politics, power, or prestige ♪
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- ♪ it's about a simple message and whether we believe ♪
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- ♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ it's still the blood of calvary ♪
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- ♪ that cleanses sin ♪
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- ♪ and sets the captives free ♪
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- ♪ it's still the name ♪
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- ♪ the name of jesus ♪
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- ♪ that has power to save the lost ♪
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- ♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ some may say it's man's religion ♪
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- ♪ or ancient history ♪
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- ♪ the cross of jesus still remains ♪
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- ♪ the price for sin that sets us free ♪
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- -♪ oh, it's the cross ♪ -♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ it's still the blood of calvary ♪
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- ♪ oh, it cleanses us, it cleanses our sin ♪
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- ♪ and sets the captives free ♪
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- ♪ it's still the name ♪
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- ♪ the name of jesus ♪
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- ♪ that has power to save the lost ♪
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- ♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ it's the cross ♪
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- -♪ the cross ♪ -♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- -♪ thank god ♪ -♪ it's still the cross ♪
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- ♪ oh the cross ♪
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- (congregation applauds)
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- [announcer] sometimes our emotions are like mountains
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- That stand in our way.
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- Obstacles like doubt, bitterness,
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- Or fear keep us from enjoying a peaceful life of courage.
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- In his book, "invincible," conquering the mountains
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- That separate you from the blessed life,
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- Dr. robert jeffress helps you overcome barriers like guilt,
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- Loneliness, lust, grief, anxiety, and more.
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- Discover how to conquer the mountains that hold you back.
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- Request your hardcover copy of "invincible,"
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- When you give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- We're halfway through that 52 day construction project,
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- And nehemiah records this.
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- The people were discouraged.
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- I want you to notice the four reasons they were discouraged.
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- The four d's that add up to discouragement.
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- First of all, the people were drained. look at verse 10.
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- Halfway through the project it says,
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- "and the strength of the burden bearers is failing."
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- (robert speak in hebrew) in hebrew.
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- Literally, the people are stumbling.
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- They are staggering. they are toddling.
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- There's something about a major project that drains you.
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- Vince lombardi famously said,
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- "fatigue makes cowards of us all."
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- When our bodies grow tired, we become discouraged.
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- Weary people are whiny people. never forget that.
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- Secondly, the people were not only drained,
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- They were disgruntled.
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- Look again at verse 10, "yet there is much rubbish."
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- That is the life verse for every parent of a teenager.
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- Look around, there is much rubbish.
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- Whenever you're involved in something big and worthwhile,
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- There's going to be a lot of garbage,
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- Literal and figurative around.
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- There's going to be a lot of stuff around you
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- That can cause discouragement.
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- Third, notice the progression here. they were drained.
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- They were disgruntled. they became dejected, dejected.
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- Look at verse 10 again,
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- "and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall."
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- They said, "we're in over our heads. we just can't do it.
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- We might as well hang it up."
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- And that led to the final d. they were distressed.
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- The people were distressed.
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- They were so discouraged that they came to the point,
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- They said, "we can't handle one more problem.
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- We've had it.
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- If we get one more piece of bad news, we're going to collapse."
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- Have you ever felt that way in your life?
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- Where you get to the point you say,
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- "i can't take one more bad thing happening."
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- Doesn't matter how big or small it is,
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- "i can't take one more thing."
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- And usually that one more thing ends up happening.
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- The enemy knows he's got you when you say,
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- "i can't handle one more thing."
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- That's what happened to the israelites
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- When they were at the end of themselves.
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- Look at verse 11.
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- "our enemies said, 'they will not know or see
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- Until we come among them, kill them
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- And put a stop to the work.'"
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- Now, that's what the enemies were saying,
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- But how did those building the wall know about it?
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- Look at, this is so key. verse 12.
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- "then the jews, our own people
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- Who lived near the enemies came and told us 10 times,
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- 'they will come up against us
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- From every place where you turn.'"
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- Do you know people who love to deliver bad news?
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- They love to come into your life
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- And they'll say something they heard
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- And they'll say to you, they will amplify it 10 times.
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- "you know, i just think you need to know.
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- Everybody is saying! everybody is saying!"
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- Now, they may have heard it one time,
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- It's probably from their mate,
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- But oh, that suddenly becomes, everybody is saying,
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- Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
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- When somebody says that to you, ask them.
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- "well, exactly who is saying that?
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- Could you tell me?"
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- "oh, no, no, no, it's confidential."
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- "okay, if you can't tell me their name,
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- Just tell me how many?
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- You said, 'everybody saying,' are you talking about
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- You've heard that from 100 people?"
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- "oh, well, no, not 100 people."
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- "would you say 50 people have said that to you?"
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- "oh, no, no, no, no, no, not 50."
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- Usually it's them and maybe their mate or best friend.
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- This is what the israelites were doing.
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- They were listening to people who bore bad news.
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- This led to the people becoming discouraged.
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- They were discouraged, they were drained,
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- They were disgruntled, dejected, distressed.
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- That led to discouragement.
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- Now, how do you handle discouragement?
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- Well, if somebody says,
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- "well, we just need to pray about it."
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- Look, if your tire goes flat, you can pray all you want to,
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- But eventually the tire has to be inflated.
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- Same way with discouragement.
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- Yes, we ought to pray,
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- But discouraged people need to be encouraged.
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- And i want to show you how nehemiah illustrates
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- How to be encouraged when you're facing discouragement.
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- The path that leads from discouragement to hope.
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- I want you to look at the five decisive actions
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- That nehemiah took when the people became discouraged.
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- First of all, find encouragement in your family.
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- Find encouragement in your family. look at verse 13.
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- "i stationed men in the lowest part of the space
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- Behind the wall, the exposed places,
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- And i stationed the people in families
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- With their swords, spears, and bows."
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- He put the people together as families to work on the wall.
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- Your family ought to be a place,
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- Where regardless of what's happening on the outside,
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- You can find encouragement.
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- It ought to be your safe place.
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- Now, i realize for many of you, that's not the case.
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- You may come from a dysfunctional family.
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- You may have had an absentee father.
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- You don't find the encouragement you need in your family.
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- Then you need a family of friends,
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- Or you need your church family,
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- But there ought to be someplace
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- Where you find encouragement,
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- A group of people who love you unconditionally.
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- Secondly, remember, god is on your side.
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- Whenever you feel discouraged,
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- Remember, god is on your side.
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- Nehemiah reminded the people of that in verse 14.
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- He said, "when i saw their fear,
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- I rose and i spoke to the nobles,
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- The officials and the rest of the people,
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- And i said, 'do not be afraid of them;
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- Remember the lord who is great and awesome.'"
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- Underline that, god is great and awesome!
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- "and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters,
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- Your wives, and your houses."
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- We need to be reminded of the greatness,
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- The awesomeness of god.
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- Because when we're reminded of the greatness of god,
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- Now listen to this.
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- Our problems don't evaporate,
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- But remembering the greatness of god
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- Puts our problems in proper perspective.
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- It reminds us how small our problems really are
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- Compared to the greatness of god.
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- Remember numbers 13, the spies,
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- The 12 spies who went into canaan to check things out,
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- And they came back with a report
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- And 10 them said, "we cannot overtake the land.
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- There are giants in the land!"
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- And there were giants in the land,
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- But then they said, "there are giants in the land,
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- And we became as grasshoppers in our own eyes."
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- Yeah, they had giants, that was accurate,
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- But what was inaccurate is they weren't grasshoppers.
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- But without god we're susceptible to being overwhelmed
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- And discouraged with our problems.
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- They forgot god and they became less than they really were.
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- The same thing is true for you.
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- You need to remind yourself of the greatness of god.
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- You say, "well, how do i do that?"
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- One way to do that is through the scripture.
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- I want to give you a couple of scripture verses
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- To memorize to remember the greatness of god
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- And the fact that god is on your side.
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- Romans 8:31-32, paul said, "what shall we say them?
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- If god is for us, who can be against us?
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- He who did not spare his own son,
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- But delivered him up for us all,
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- Will he not also freely give us everything else?"
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- Or psalm 34:8, "o taste and see that the lord is good.
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- How blessed are the people who take refuge in him!"
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- Or psalm 8, "o lord, our lord,
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- How majestic is your name and all the earth.
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- When i consider the heavens, the work of your fingers,
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- The moon and the stars which you have ordained,
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- What is man that you're even mindful of him?
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- Or the son of man, that you take care of him?"
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- Remind yourself through scripture of the greatness of god.
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- Listen to good christian praise music,
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- Wonderful music from our choir and orchestra,
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- Our day one band that reminds us of the greatness of god.
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- When you remember the greatness of god,
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- It puts your problems into perspective.
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- See, do the work god has given you.
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- Now, this suggestion alone
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- Is worth the price of the sermon.
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- Do the work that god has given you.
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- Don't wait until the cloud of discouragement lifts
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- Before you start doing what god has called you to do.
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- Where do i find that? look at verses 15 and 16.
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- "when our enemies heard that it was known to us
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- And that god had frustrated their plan,
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- Then all of us return to the wall,"
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- Underline this, "each one to do his work."
- 00:13:40.676 --> 00:13:44.113
- And then again in verse 16, "from that day on,
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- Half of my servants carried on the work
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- While half of them held the spears."
- 00:13:49.952 --> 00:13:52.388
- Now, you know what most of us do?
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- We wait until we feel right to do right,
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- And we've got it reversed.
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- Jerome bruner, a psychologist at harvard university, said,
- 00:13:59.061 --> 00:14:04.366
- "it is much easier to act yourself into a feeling
- 00:14:05.367 --> 00:14:09.738
- Than to feel yourself into an action."
- 00:14:09.738 --> 00:14:13.309
- That's gold right there.
- 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:15.311
- It's a lot easier to act yourself into a feeling,
- 00:14:15.311 --> 00:14:17.846
- Then feel yourself into an action.
- 00:14:17.846 --> 00:14:19.248
- In other words, if you wait until you feel right
- 00:14:19.248 --> 00:14:21.750
- To do right, you'll never do right.
- 00:14:21.750 --> 00:14:23.953
- But if you'll do right, you start to feel right.
- 00:14:23.953 --> 00:14:26.855
- By the way, jerome bruner didn't make that up.
- 00:14:27.823 --> 00:14:31.093
- That came from the scriptures itself.
- 00:14:31.093 --> 00:14:33.762
- Remember in genesis 4:6, god was talking to cain.
- 00:14:33.762 --> 00:14:39.068
- Cain was all depressed and discouraged
- 00:14:39.868 --> 00:14:42.304
- After he tried to bring that no account offering to god,
- 00:14:42.304 --> 00:14:44.974
- And god rejected it
- 00:14:44.974 --> 00:14:46.175
- And accepted the offering of his brother.
- 00:14:46.175 --> 00:14:48.744
- Remember what god said to cain in genesis 4:6,
- 00:14:48.744 --> 00:14:51.480
- "why are you angry, cain
- 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:54.416
- And why has your countenance fallen?
- 00:14:54.416 --> 00:14:57.519
- If you do right, will not your countenance be lifted up?"
- 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.858
- In other words, cain, if you will do right,
- 00:15:03.792 --> 00:15:06.462
- You'll start to feel right.
- 00:15:06.462 --> 00:15:08.831
- Do the work that god has already called you to do.
- 00:15:08.831 --> 00:15:13.435
- Number four, enlist other people to help you.
- 00:15:13.435 --> 00:15:17.740
- Enlist the help of others.
- 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:20.442
- I came across a term this week that i was unfamiliar with.
- 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:25.848
- It's the term sologamy. do you know about sologamy?
- 00:15:25.848 --> 00:15:30.986
- You know what it is?
- 00:15:31.453 --> 00:15:33.022
- It's the new trend of people choosing to marry themselves.
- 00:15:33.022 --> 00:15:38.560
- Solo, sologamy, marrying yourself.
- 00:15:39.294 --> 00:15:43.132
- Now you think i'm making this up.
- 00:15:43.132 --> 00:15:44.833
- Go read the new york times this week.
- 00:15:44.833 --> 00:15:46.635
- There's a big article
- 00:15:46.635 --> 00:15:47.936
- On the trend of people marrying themselves.
- 00:15:47.936 --> 00:15:50.773
- They actually send out invitations to a wedding ceremony.
- 00:15:50.773 --> 00:15:55.244
- People give gifts.
- 00:15:55.244 --> 00:15:56.712
- They have a reception for a person to marry himself.
- 00:15:56.712 --> 00:16:01.617
- Now, we're not going to explore that completely,
- 00:16:02.551 --> 00:16:06.688
- But obviously, it is a ridiculous idea.
- 00:16:06.688 --> 00:16:09.591
- You need somebody else to marry.
- 00:16:09.591 --> 00:16:12.861
- You can't marry yourself,
- 00:16:12.861 --> 00:16:15.197
- And you also need other people to help you through life.
- 00:16:15.197 --> 00:16:17.699
- That's a principle you find in scripture.
- 00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:19.802
- Look at verses 19 and 20 of nehemiah 4.
- 00:16:19.802 --> 00:16:24.807
- By the way, did you hear somebody's phone going off
- 00:16:25.808 --> 00:16:28.744
- Just a moment ago, that amber alert that comes?
- 00:16:28.744 --> 00:16:32.748
- You know, that can be very annoying.
- 00:16:32.748 --> 00:16:35.317
- Or your television, the tornado warning
- 00:16:35.317 --> 00:16:38.954
- That comes and so forth.
- 00:16:38.954 --> 00:16:40.189
- Back in nehemiah's day,
- 00:16:40.189 --> 00:16:41.490
- They didn't have the alerts like we've got.
- 00:16:41.490 --> 00:16:44.827
- If an enemy came, then nehemiah had to devise a way
- 00:16:44.827 --> 00:16:48.664
- To warn everybody of it,
- 00:16:48.664 --> 00:16:50.165
- And that's exactly what he does in verses 19 and 20.
- 00:16:50.165 --> 00:16:53.235
- "and i said to the nobles,
- 00:16:53.235 --> 00:16:54.803
- The officials and the rest of the people,
- 00:16:54.803 --> 00:16:56.672
- 'the work is great and extensive,
- 00:16:56.672 --> 00:16:58.774
- And we are separated on the wall from one another.'"
- 00:16:58.774 --> 00:17:01.477
- Even though people were in families,
- 00:17:01.477 --> 00:17:02.978
- They were still separated.
- 00:17:02.978 --> 00:17:04.513
- "at whatever place you hear the sounds of the trumpet,
- 00:17:04.513 --> 00:17:07.649
- Rally to us there, our god will fight for us."
- 00:17:07.649 --> 00:17:10.919
- In other words, if we're under attack,
- 00:17:10.919 --> 00:17:13.155
- We'll get a bugler to blow the bugle
- 00:17:13.155 --> 00:17:15.724
- Instead of sounding the amber alert
- 00:17:15.724 --> 00:17:17.860
- And you go to the place, wherever you hear the bugler,
- 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:21.330
- And we'll all come together instead of being alone
- 00:17:21.330 --> 00:17:23.999
- When the enemy attacked.
- 00:17:23.999 --> 00:17:25.734
- He established a place for the people to gather together
- 00:17:25.734 --> 00:17:28.537
- Where the bugler is.
- 00:17:28.537 --> 00:17:30.072
- But also a principle that we all need to remember today.
- 00:17:30.072 --> 00:17:32.708
- Never try to fight your battles alone.
- 00:17:32.708 --> 00:17:37.913
- Or even in a family,
- 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.648
- You need a bigger group to be a part of.
- 00:17:39.648 --> 00:17:43.018
- You need a church family.
- 00:17:43.018 --> 00:17:45.287
- You need a group of believers who will surround you.
- 00:17:45.287 --> 00:17:48.857
- Isolated people are defeated people.
- 00:17:48.857 --> 00:17:53.061
- Solomon said it this way. i like the new living translation.
- 00:17:53.061 --> 00:17:56.131
- Ecclesiastes 4:12.
- 00:17:56.131 --> 00:17:57.933
- "a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated,
- 00:17:57.933 --> 00:18:01.203
- But two can stand back to back and conquer.
- 00:18:01.203 --> 00:18:05.073
- Three are even better,
- 00:18:05.073 --> 00:18:06.608
- For a triple braided cord is not easily broken."
- 00:18:06.608 --> 00:18:11.513
- You know, one of the most dangerous things
- 00:18:11.513 --> 00:18:13.315
- About this pandemic
- 00:18:13.315 --> 00:18:14.917
- Has been unlike other crises in american life,
- 00:18:14.917 --> 00:18:18.587
- The civil war, world war ii, terrorist attacks.
- 00:18:18.587 --> 00:18:23.926
- Unlike those crises, we had to go through this alone.
- 00:18:25.027 --> 00:18:27.896
- We were separated from one another
- 00:18:27.896 --> 00:18:29.698
- And from our places of worship,
- 00:18:29.698 --> 00:18:32.067
- And that's why i would just encourage those of you
- 00:18:32.067 --> 00:18:35.204
- Who are watching online right now,
- 00:18:35.204 --> 00:18:37.773
- Get back to church as soon as you possibly can.
- 00:18:38.774 --> 00:18:42.578
- The enemy loves to isolate us
- 00:18:43.212 --> 00:18:46.114
- And ultimately attack and defeat us.
- 00:18:46.114 --> 00:18:49.017
- We need one another. isolated people are defeated people.
- 00:18:49.017 --> 00:18:54.356
- And finally, how do you move from discouragement to hope?
- 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:58.260
- Serve another person in need,
- 00:18:58.260 --> 00:19:01.563
- Encourage another person who needs encouragement.
- 00:19:01.563 --> 00:19:04.333
- Where do i get that? look at verses 21 and 22.
- 00:19:04.333 --> 00:19:07.569
- "so we carried on the work
- 00:19:07.569 --> 00:19:09.071
- With half of them holding spears
- 00:19:09.071 --> 00:19:10.739
- From dawn until the stars appeared.
- 00:19:10.739 --> 00:19:13.242
- At that time, i also said to the people,
- 00:19:13.242 --> 00:19:15.510
- 'let each man with his servant
- 00:19:15.510 --> 00:19:16.979
- Spend the night within jerusalem
- 00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:19.448
- So that they may be a guard for us by night
- 00:19:19.448 --> 00:19:21.750
- And a laborer by day.'"
- 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:23.385
- I read and read this,
- 00:19:23.385 --> 00:19:24.853
- The commentaries this week about this passage
- 00:19:24.853 --> 00:19:26.855
- Trying to figure out what was going on.
- 00:19:26.855 --> 00:19:28.890
- Here's my best shot at it.
- 00:19:28.890 --> 00:19:30.692
- Nehemiah said, "we need to speed up
- 00:19:30.692 --> 00:19:32.261
- The construction project, so we're going to work double shifts
- 00:19:32.261 --> 00:19:34.796
- And get this thing done before the enemy attacks.
- 00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:37.933
- So to do that, we need people
- 00:19:37.933 --> 00:19:39.801
- After they finish their shift,
- 00:19:39.801 --> 00:19:41.637
- We need them to go ahead and stay here,
- 00:19:41.637 --> 00:19:43.805
- Stay in the city, guard the other people who are working
- 00:19:43.805 --> 00:19:48.343
- So we can speed up the project."
- 00:19:48.343 --> 00:19:50.812
- Even though the people were drained and tired
- 00:19:50.812 --> 00:19:52.881
- After a busy day of working, nehemiah said,
- 00:19:52.881 --> 00:19:55.751
- "protect somebody else."
- 00:19:55.751 --> 00:19:58.887
- And the principle here is sometimes
- 00:19:58.887 --> 00:20:01.256
- The best thing you can do when you're discouraged
- 00:20:01.256 --> 00:20:04.493
- Is to encourage somebody else.
- 00:20:04.493 --> 00:20:07.696
- Now you probably feel like you're in no position to do that.
- 00:20:07.696 --> 00:20:10.599
- I've heard people say, "oh, i'm just so drained emotionally.
- 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:14.303
- I don't have anything to offer anybody."
- 00:20:14.303 --> 00:20:16.605
- That's not true if you're a christian,
- 00:20:16.605 --> 00:20:18.540
- You do have something to offer somebody else.
- 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:21.143
- I heard somebody say this week, and i wrote this down,
- 00:20:21.143 --> 00:20:23.745
- "a candle doesn't lose anything
- 00:20:23.745 --> 00:20:27.349
- When it lights another candle."
- 00:20:27.349 --> 00:20:30.252
- That's a profound thought.
- 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.187
- There is nothing of a candle that's diminished
- 00:20:32.187 --> 00:20:34.356
- When it lights another candle.
- 00:20:34.356 --> 00:20:37.192
- And the same thing is true
- 00:20:37.192 --> 00:20:38.393
- When we encourage another christian,
- 00:20:38.393 --> 00:20:42.331
- It doesn't cost us anything.
- 00:20:42.331 --> 00:20:45.133
- I think about my friend jimmy draper,
- 00:20:45.901 --> 00:20:47.936
- Who was the associate pastor here years ago.
- 00:20:47.936 --> 00:20:51.273
- I remember when he was preaching one time,
- 00:20:51.273 --> 00:20:52.941
- I heard him as a teenager
- 00:20:52.941 --> 00:20:54.609
- And he said something i'll never forget.
- 00:20:54.609 --> 00:20:56.278
- He said, "be nice to everybody
- 00:20:56.278 --> 00:20:58.814
- Because everybody's having a hard time."
- 00:20:58.814 --> 00:21:01.650
- I'd change that a little bit to say,
- 00:21:02.451 --> 00:21:04.720
- Encourage anyone you meet
- 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.855
- Because everybody needs encouragement,
- 00:21:06.855 --> 00:21:10.525
- And you've got the ability to encourage other people.
- 00:21:11.593 --> 00:21:14.796
- I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, my daughter julia,
- 00:21:14.796 --> 00:21:18.433
- Has written a very honest book called "pray big things,"
- 00:21:18.433 --> 00:21:22.637
- And she details the discouragement she and ryan felt
- 00:21:22.637 --> 00:21:26.408
- After going through a season of infertility
- 00:21:26.408 --> 00:21:29.544
- And three miscarriages.
- 00:21:29.544 --> 00:21:32.180
- And in the book she describes an episode in which she,
- 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:35.550
- About four years ago,
- 00:21:35.550 --> 00:21:37.185
- Had lunch with her younger sister dorothy.
- 00:21:37.185 --> 00:21:40.655
- And dorothy said something that lifted julia's spirits.
- 00:21:40.655 --> 00:21:44.760
- Julia writes, "at that lunch,
- 00:21:44.760 --> 00:21:46.895
- Dorothy looked at me and said, 'julia,
- 00:21:46.895 --> 00:21:49.865
- I think something really big is about to happen.'
- 00:21:49.865 --> 00:21:53.402
- Now, this was a year before the triplets were born,
- 00:21:53.402 --> 00:21:56.471
- Before my dad became a presidential advisor,
- 00:21:56.471 --> 00:21:59.074
- Before ryan and i were cast in a reality tv show
- 00:21:59.074 --> 00:22:02.377
- That gave us the ability
- 00:22:02.377 --> 00:22:04.112
- To talk about christ on a national platform.
- 00:22:04.112 --> 00:22:06.782
- How did dorothy know something big was about to happen?
- 00:22:06.782 --> 00:22:11.319
- Dorothy is not some kind of modern day prophetess,
- 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:14.756
- But she understands the spiritual progression of events.
- 00:22:14.756 --> 00:22:19.594
- Temptation, struggles, trials
- 00:22:19.594 --> 00:22:22.697
- And persecution usually come before a blessing.
- 00:22:22.697 --> 00:22:27.669
- If we figure out that sequence,
- 00:22:27.669 --> 00:22:30.071
- We will not be swayed in our beliefs.
- 00:22:30.071 --> 00:22:32.941
- While the trials will be hard, our victory is certain."
- 00:22:32.941 --> 00:22:38.680
- There's some of you right now who feel like
- 00:22:39.581 --> 00:22:42.818
- The mountain of discouragement is overshadowing
- 00:22:42.818 --> 00:22:45.854
- Everything else in your life.
- 00:22:45.854 --> 00:22:48.089
- Remember, struggles, trials,
- 00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:52.694
- Difficulties many times are just the prelude
- 00:22:52.694 --> 00:22:57.399
- To a new season of blessing
- 00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:59.634
- That's about to come into your life.
- 00:22:59.634 --> 00:23:02.003
- Remind yourself, encourage yourself with that truth
- 00:23:03.004 --> 00:23:06.775
- And then find somebody else to encourage with that truth.
- 00:23:06.775 --> 00:23:11.112
- Why?
- 00:23:11.112 --> 00:23:12.647
- Because the path that leads from discouragement to hope
- 00:23:12.647 --> 00:23:15.984
- Is best traveled together rather than alone.
- 00:23:15.984 --> 00:23:20.555
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:20.555 --> 00:23:24.759
- If you feel stuck in a rut of discouragement today,
- 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:29.397
- I hope you'll begin to see
- 00:23:29.397 --> 00:23:31.032
- That life's trials are not a permanent destination,
- 00:23:31.032 --> 00:23:34.269
- But a stop on the road to god's blessings,
- 00:23:34.269 --> 00:23:38.073
- And understanding that truth is key
- 00:23:38.073 --> 00:23:40.775
- To conquering the mountain of discouragement.
- 00:23:40.775 --> 00:23:43.778
- Well, in closing today, i want to assure you
- 00:23:43.778 --> 00:23:46.281
- That your gift to "pathway to victory"
- 00:23:46.281 --> 00:23:48.383
- Is handled with utmost care as we bring god's hope
- 00:23:48.383 --> 00:23:52.721
- To millions of viewers and listeners.
- 00:23:52.721 --> 00:23:55.657
- "pathway to victory" has a very small but efficient team
- 00:23:55.657 --> 00:23:59.194
- Here in dallas that handles everything for you,
- 00:23:59.194 --> 00:24:02.764
- So that as much of your financial support as possible
- 00:24:02.764 --> 00:24:06.268
- Is channeled directly in helping
- 00:24:06.268 --> 00:24:08.703
- Millions around the world learn how to become invincible.
- 00:24:08.703 --> 00:24:13.174
- And as a result of your generous giving,
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- We are now one of the fastest growing
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- Christian media ministries in the world.
- 00:24:18.280 --> 00:24:21.483
- Now, please, stay right there.
- 00:24:21.483 --> 00:24:23.318
- I'll be back with more
- 00:24:23.318 --> 00:24:24.786
- "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:24.786 --> 00:24:28.290
- Jesus told us that if we have faith
- 00:24:29.024 --> 00:24:30.992
- As tiny as a mustard seed, we can move mountains.
- 00:24:30.992 --> 00:24:34.529
- But what does that promise really mean?
- 00:24:34.529 --> 00:24:37.465
- [announcer] in his book, "invincible,"
- 00:24:37.465 --> 00:24:39.501
- Dr. robert jeffress helps you conquer the mountains
- 00:24:39.501 --> 00:24:41.970
- That separate you from the blessed life.
- 00:24:41.970 --> 00:24:44.239
- [robert] all of us are going to face mountains in life,
- 00:24:44.239 --> 00:24:46.808
- But those obstacles don't have to stop us in our tracks
- 00:24:46.808 --> 00:24:50.378
- Because with god on our side, we are invincible.
- 00:24:50.378 --> 00:24:54.282
- [announcer] in the pages of "invincible,"
- 00:24:54.282 --> 00:24:55.784
- You'll discover how to move from doubt to faith,
- 00:24:55.784 --> 00:24:58.186
- From anxiety to peace, from discouragement to hope,
- 00:24:58.186 --> 00:25:01.289
- From fear to courage, and much more.
- 00:25:01.289 --> 00:25:03.892
- Life's up and downs can be overwhelming,
- 00:25:03.892 --> 00:25:06.094
- But in the eyes of the mountain mover,
- 00:25:06.094 --> 00:25:08.730
- Every mountain you face is a mole hill
- 00:25:08.730 --> 00:25:11.700
- And god is ready to take you to the other side of blessing.
- 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:15.303
- [announcer] you're invited to request a hardcover copy
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- Along with a personal and group study guide.
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- Nothing will prevent your conquering mountains
- 00:25:31.753 --> 00:25:34.422
- In your life any more than doubt.
- 00:25:34.422 --> 00:25:37.525
- We've got this secret fear
- 00:25:37.525 --> 00:25:39.260
- That our doubts are bigger than god's answers.
- 00:25:39.260 --> 00:25:42.030
- Don't worry about that.
- 00:25:42.030 --> 00:25:43.632
- God is big enough to handle your questions.
- 00:25:43.632 --> 00:25:46.968
- [announcer] your generosity today will help us
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- ♪ music ♪
- 00:25:59.614 --> 00:26:01.349
- Life's problems seem a lot more manageable
- 00:26:01.349 --> 00:26:04.386
- When we have someone to help us through them.
- 00:26:04.386 --> 00:26:06.888
- Don't you agree?
- 00:26:06.888 --> 00:26:08.523
- Well, in turn, we're called to lift up other people
- 00:26:08.523 --> 00:26:12.293
- As they navigate their personal struggles as well.
- 00:26:12.293 --> 00:26:15.997
- That's the biblical path from discouragement to hope.
- 00:26:15.997 --> 00:26:19.968
- Now, the bible says that all of us have sinned
- 00:26:19.968 --> 00:26:23.405
- And fallen short of the glory of god,
- 00:26:23.405 --> 00:26:26.041
- And as a result, everyone struggles with a measure of shame.
- 00:26:26.041 --> 00:26:30.478
- So please join us next time
- 00:26:30.478 --> 00:26:32.614
- When i talk about conquering the mountain of guilt.
- 00:26:32.614 --> 00:26:36.551
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:26:36.551 --> 00:26:37.886
- Of what's coming up next on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:37.886 --> 00:26:42.223
- Everybody struggles with guilt about something
- 00:26:43.158 --> 00:26:47.062
- Because we've all sinned and fallen short of god's plan,
- 00:26:47.062 --> 00:26:50.432
- But we have a choice of how we handle our guilt.
- 00:26:50.432 --> 00:26:53.168
- We can try to cover it, we can run away from it,
- 00:26:53.168 --> 00:26:56.871
- We can blame others for it, we can rationalize it,
- 00:26:56.871 --> 00:26:59.374
- Or we can discover the freedom
- 00:26:59.374 --> 00:27:02.744
- That comes from god's forgiveness.
- 00:27:02.744 --> 00:27:05.547
- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
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- For the message, "moving from guilt to repentance,"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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